Description

Punch Line is a good line that will clean up a little more with traffic.

Climb up the bottom part on trad gear, which may be the crux for face climbers... continue up to a slab, where you step right, clip a bolt for protection, then step back left under the bolt again, and climb up on a powerful section of flake-pinching and small feet. Finish by trying to pull onto the summit slab gracefully, if you can.

Location

From the right-hand (western) edge of the crag, walk East past the Original Route and continue until a large roof appears. At the right edge of the inset formed by this, there is a left-facing corner with a crack, capped by a slab and overhanging flake with 3 bolts, then a bolt-and-chain anchor. This is 'Punch Line.'

Protection

The upper crux is bolted, and the lower crux is trad/crack. Both can be adequately protected with a standard light rack and the existing bolts.

This is a short, fun route. Look for the best feet up top. I didn't find them my first time up and took a pretty good lob. I didn't hit the ledge and that was about the biggest fall you could take. A red Alien could protect the final mantle crux pretty well - I guess I should have taken the time to place it on my first try.

I did this route yesterday. It really kicked my butt. I would definitely advise placing a piece above the second bolt. When you get to the end of that excellent layback flake, there is NOT a ready exit... so be prepared.